Mission Statusplugin-autotooltip__default plugin-autotooltip_bigMission Status
Perserverance has now landed successfully, and the clock is now counting mission time.
Watch this page for updated information as we move beyond landing
The rover landed about a kilometre off-centre of its landing zone, and about 2km from the base of the cliffs at the edge of the silt fan (part of the influx delta complex).
7 Minutes of Terrorplugin-autotooltip__default plugin-autotooltip_big7 Minutes of Terror
[7 mins of terror]It takes seven minutes for a vehicles to descend through the Martian atmosphere to the surface. The distance between Earth and Mars is always greater than seven light minutes when these landings take place, so by the time Earth gets the message that the vehicles has made contact with the atmosphere, it is already on the ground. Hopefully in one piece.
The Cookie policy is straightforward. This site only uses cookies that are required to make your experience of using this site better, and only uses session cookies (see exceptions below). Session cookies are deleted when you close your browser.
Orbital Calculator Current Version This is a portable application, meaning there is no installer. Just unzip into a folder and run the executable. Since it is portable, it can be run from a USB stick.
A full description and a list of the features are available
NASA Image of the Dayplugin-autotooltip__default plugin-autotooltip_bigNASA Image of the Day
Date: Fri 16th April, 2021
Title: The Doubly Warped World of Binary Black Holes
Light rays from accretion disks around a pair of orbiting supermassive black holes make their way through the warped space-time produced by extreme gravity in this stunning computer visualization. The simulated accretion disks have been given different false color schemes, red for the disk surrounding a 200-million-solar-mass black hole, and blue for the disk surrounding a 100-million-solar…
This page has a portal through which you can view the current location of the International Space Station, updating in real-time. The tracker itself comes from the European Space Agency (ESA).
Part of the tool doesn't seem to be working properly yet, raising an error when the widget first loads. A possible explanation for the error is detailed below. There is also a handy link to get email notifications direct from NASA when the ISS is visible in your night sky.
Mars Mission Locatorplugin-autotooltip__default plugin-autotooltip_bigMars Mission Locator
[Mars Missions] The location of all the missions that have gone to Mars can be confusing when you don't know where they went. Many missions never made it to the surface successfully, or had a malfunction that prevented them from working properly. Some of the landers introduced themselves to the surface with a little too much vigour. Others sailed on past Mars never to be seen again.
Mars Weather Reportsplugin-autotooltip__default plugin-autotooltip_bigMars Weather Reports
These reports are provided by NASA's InSight lander in the south-west corner of Elysium Planitia. Daily readings are usually a couple of days behind reality.
This page is updated as new data is detected.
Last update: 11:35 Wed. Apr 14th, 2021 BST
Near Earth Objectsplugin-autotooltip__default plugin-autotooltip_bigNear Earth Objects
(c)www.astroart.org The following data is reproduced from the NASA NEO (Near Earth Object) database, and is updated daily. Each record represents an object such as an asteroid or comet, and notes the date and approximate time the object is closest to the Earth as it passes by. The data is refreshed daily covering the period displayed on this page.
Perseverance has launched succesfully and the clock is now counting flight and ETA time. It is due to land on Mars on (times and countdown timer based on NASA's timer):
* Feb 18th 2021. * * * * * * *
Rules on Reviewingplugin-autotooltip__default plugin-autotooltip_bigRules on Reviewing
First off, you should know I only have a limited amount of time, so I can't review a hundred novels at once. Sorry, but that's basic physics for you. If I agree to review your novel, you may have to wait a while for me to get around to it, and then I'll need time to read it. I only review hard copies.
This is my blog. It is an eclectic mix of book reviews by new and up-and-coming authors, articles, science news, random topic monologues and stuff about my software. Sometimes I talk about my fiction writing too.
startplugin-autotooltip__default plugin-autotooltip_bigI'm a novelist and have an interest in space science and physics. I've been a programmer for more than 30 years and I like reviewing new and up-and-coming authors.
If you want me to review your novel, please look at my Rules on Reviewing page.
Please consider registering (see top of page) to help support this site. Your personal data isn't shared with anyone, but it makes me feel good.
topbarplugin-autotooltip__default plugin-autotooltip_big* Home * ISS * Mars Weather * Downloads * Orbital Calculator * Cookie Policy & GDPR * Book Reviews * Contact
blog/aardvaark/perseverancerover/mission_status.txt · Last modified: 2021/03/13 10:18 by Phil Ide
ISSplugin-autotooltip__default plugin-autotooltip_bigInternational Space Station
This page has a portal through which you can view the current location of the International Space Station, updating in real-time. The tracker itself comes from the European Space Agency (ESA).
Part of the tool doesn't seem to be working properly yet, raising an error when the widget first loads. A possible explanation for the error is detailed below. There is also a handy link to get email notifications direct from NASA when the ISS is visible in your night sky.
Mars Weatherplugin-autotooltip__default plugin-autotooltip_bigMars Weather Reports
These reports are provided by NASA's InSight lander in the south-west corner of Elysium Planitia. Daily readings are usually a couple of days behind reality.
Orbital Calculator Current Version This is a portable application, meaning there is no installer. Just unzip into a folder and run the executable. Since it is portable, it can be run from a USB stick.
A full description and a list of the features are available
Orbital Calculatorplugin-autotooltip__default plugin-autotooltip_bigOrbital Calculator
I needed to calculate orbital characteristics for any orbit around any gravitational mass (because I write sci-fi stories), so I wrote this program because I'm a programmer and I'm too lazy to do it by hand all the time. The program has expanded over the last few years, sometimes from suggestions by other writers. I make it freely available and as simple to use as possible. It now has a list of functions as long as your arm (assuming you're not a tentacle user), and the numbe…
The Cookie policy is straightforward. This site only uses cookies that are required to make your experience of using this site better, and only uses session cookies (see exceptions below). Session cookies are deleted when you close your browser.
Book Reviewsplugin-autotooltip__default plugin-autotooltip_bigBook Reviews
Here you can find all the book reviews, broken down by genre, and further subdivided by author. If you want me to review your novel, please read my Rules on Reviewing.